By SALINA POST
A proposed funding agreement for Salina Grace's downtown Community Resource Center is among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.
About the meeting
Study sessions and city commission meetings will take place in–person in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street, and via Zoom until further notice. Meetings also can be viewed at the City of Salina YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas.
To participate via Zoom, citizens will need to use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587.
The meeting also can be accessed by phone at 1-346-248-7799. Enter Meeting ID:892 7598 4587 when prompted.
If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the mayor requests public comment on an item, citizens attending via Zoom must raise their hands so that the meeting host can allow them to speak. Those who attend the in-person meeting will have the opportunity to speak at the podium.
Citizens also can send written comments or questions to city commissioners via email at [email protected].
In order for the commissioners to have an opportunity to review comments in advance of the meeting, please email your comments or questions by 5 p.m. the Sunday prior to the Monday meetings.
Study session
Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a study session that includes the following.
2 p.m., public hearing on Lower Smoky Hill Water Supply Access District
2:15 p.m., budget (revenue neutral rate, issues and options)
Regular meeting
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a proposed agreement to provide monetary support to Salina Grace's Community Resource Center.
During the Feb. 14 study session, Chad Young, Salina Grace director, told commissioners about the goals and services being provided by Salina Grace to the homeless population in Salina through Salina Grace's Community Resource Center, 142 S. Seventh Street. The center's care managers help individuals in need in finding services and transportation.
Salina Grace also operates a winter shelter at Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, 304 W. Grand Avenue.
The center opened on Jan. 3. During January, 133 individuals were served. According to Young's presentation, 21 of those individuals did not have a place to live. Fifteen of them were placed into a shelter. The other six refused the sheltering effort that was offered.
Young noted during his presentation that doing nothing was more costly than offering services to the homeless. he cited a study from Phildelphia in which each homeless person cost taxpayers an average of $22,372 per year.
During the presentation, Young, who also serves as executive director of the Salina Rescue Mission, told commissioners that Salina Grace's total expenses for 2022 were estimated at $350,000. Some of that is being funded through private donations and grants.
Young did, however, make a one-time request of the city for $45,000 in immediate funds to allow another care manager to be hired for the Community Resource Center. He also requested $60,000 in on-going annual support.
The agreement being considered today by the city commission is for two years with automatic renewals, according to information in the commission meeting packet.
Under the agreement, Salina Grace's responsibilities would include the following.
●A low-barrier winter-only shelter
●The Community Resource Center
●Two or more care managers
●A day center with lunch provided
●Space at the center for counselors from other agencies to meet with clients
●Demographic data of clients and services
"In exchange for these services, the city will provide a one-time $45,000 payment in 2022 and $60,000 annually in subsequent years of the agreement," city staff noted in meeting packet information.
The $45,000 would come from the General Fund budgeted contingency line item which currently has $460,000. The on-going $60,000 annual contribution would be funded from the General Fund Agency Support line.
City staff is recommending that the commission approve the agreement.
Hear Chad Young discuss Salina's homeless issue during an interview on KINA's Coffee Talk in May
The city's homeless population, especially those allegedly homeless persons seen downtown, have been a point of contention for some, who have criticized local law enforcement for not doing more to rid downtown of homeless people.
Prior to his retirement, former Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson, spoke with Salina Post about the homeless issue.
Nelson said that if a homeless person is breaking the law, then, yes, there is something police can do about the situation. If, however, the person is just wandering around town talking to himself, there is little police can do other than a welfare check. That person has as much right to be there as anyone else as long as he is not breaking the law, Nelson said.
Other items on the city commission agenda for Monday include the following.
●A flag presentation to the Salina Fire Department and Salina Police Department by the Granny Brigade.
●A public hearing concerning a proposed ordinance concerning the de-annexing of that portion of the Chicago Addition lying west of the relocated Dry Creek channel. This is to be followed by commissioners considering approval of the proposed ordinance.
●Consideration to authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement to grant a right-of-way permanent easement to Evergy for an electrical transmission line "North Street to Salina Main - Greenfield" re-route across a portion of city property in the Lee Industrial Park.
●Commissioners also are scheduled to consider approving on second reading a proposed ordinance identifying the Feast on the Fe as a special event and authorizing the consumption of liquor within the boundaries of barricaded public areas at the event.
●Considering of approving on second reading a proposed ordinance that would change the street names of three public street segments in the Stone Lake Addition.
●Consideration of approval of the Saline County Rural Water District No. 3 addendum to the water purchase agreement.
●Commissioners also are scheduled to consider authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Govbuilt for a website design and hosting services.
●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute and agreement with Schneider Electric for an Investment Grade Audit.
●Consider authorizing the purchase od pre-cast, modular bathrooms from the State of Kansas Procurement bid list for the Bill Burke Memorial Park and Berkley Family Recreational Area Turf and Improvement project in the amount of $265,410 and authorize the city manager to execute a purchase agreement.
●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute a contract for engineering design services with Schwab-Eaton, P.A., for an amount not to exceed $239,000 for engineering services for the Bill Burke Memorial Park and Berkley Family Recreational Area Turf and Improvement project.
●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute a contract for engineering design services with Kaw Valley Engineering, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $49,897 for engineering dervices for Parks CIP Concrete Projects.
●Consider approving a proposed ordinance on first reading that requests a change in zoning district classification from PDD C-3 (shopping center) district to PDD C-5 (service commercial) district and approve an amended preliminary/final development plan to allow construction of a Tidal Wave Auto Spa car wash at 2351 S. Ninth Street.
To see the full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, click here.